US ready to help India build own space station: NASA Chief

New Delhi, Nov 28 (IANS) The US is ready to help India build its own space station, said NASA chief Bill Nelson, who is on his maiden visit to the country.

Nelson’s visit will mark a series of strategic discussions aimed at strengthening the partnership between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Touchdown in India! Ready to embark on a week of engaging meetings and events to grow @NASA’s partnership with @isro. India is a leader in space and we're looking forward to a productive visit 🇺🇸🇮🇳

— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) November 27, 2023

Honored to welcome @NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to India, a career public servant who has been committed to using space to bring countries together for decades. I’m excited to see how we can further our shared interest in space, a key part of the U.S.-India strategic… pic.twitter.com/61pfcqyDgq

— U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti (@USAmbIndia) November 28, 2023

Nelson is expected to visit Bengaluru's NISAR spacecraft facilities -- the first ever collaboration between NASA and ISTo over hardware development on the Earth-observing mission.

NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) set to launch in 2024 is pivotal for understanding various aspects of Earth's ecosystems, natural hazards, and climate change.

NASA will also train an Indian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station in 2024.

The NASA chief is also expected to meet Indian private companies operating in the space sector, students and discuss STEM to inspire the next generation of space explorers, known as the Artemis Generation.

Photo courtesy of X (U.S.Ambassador Eric Garcetti)